It’s hard not to get excited watching a close game, but the near win by the varsity basketball team was a hard finish for Wildcat fans. The Cats lost to Lapeer East 56-47.
‘We actually played a good game,? said head coach Steve Laidlaw. ‘We’re making the plays we need to make, we just quit making them in the last three minutes of the game.?
Laidlaw said the Wildcats were down by 14 points early in the game but refused to give up against East.
Dominating the court in the third period, Wildcat fans were hopeful for a win when the cagers tied the game in the fourth. However, with only three minutes to go in the game East closed it out with an 11 point lead.
‘They just quit making the plays they needed to make,? said Laidlaw.
Senior Dave Wendt continued to dominate the court with a total of 24 game points, while junior Mark Willar had a good game giving the team 11.
Junior Brad Dugan, who seemed to bring confidence back to the court after a three week absence, shot 8 of the game points but re-injured his knee and is expected to be out of the next four games.
‘We’re just going to have to overcome Dugan’s absence,? said Laidlaw. ‘That injury is such a shame for him personally.?
Laidlaw said junior Tim Ketelhut played a great shooting guard and said junior Mark Willar played a great second half, with 9 game points in the last two periods of the game.
‘We have been playing great the last five games and seniors Marty Ball and Joe Kubina have done a good job coming off the bench in these games,? Laidlaw said. ‘If we keep doing what we are doing, coming out and playing hard, we have a shot at Friday night’s game.?
The Winterfest game on Friday will be at home, against Lapeer West, the number one team in the Flint Metro League.
The coach is confident the Wildcats have the moves and stamina to beat West, as long as their confidence level continues to grow. ‘These last five games have brought us hope,? Laidlaw said. The Winterfest game begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4 at Oxford High School.
THIS JUST IN: Last night, the cagers beat Swartz Creek 64-48 in what Coach Laidlaw called ‘the best game ever.?
Wendt scored 14 points. Willar and Senior Brandon McKay each scored 12. Keenist and Senior Colin Keener each scored nine points.
‘It was a great team performance,? Laidlaw noted.